FANTASY FOOTBALL IN-SEASON FEATURES

IDP Sleepers - Week 4 Darin Tietgen September 24, 2008

Welcome to Week 4 of The Huddle’s IDP Sleeper Report. Hopefully we’ve been able to get you a few lesser-known names to follow week to week. With the injury bug chomping down on more than a handful of players (and bye weeks upon us) you need to keep your eye on many sleepers, especially on the IDP side. Feel free to email me if you want to discuss IDP sleepers. Contact me at huddledarin@yahoo.com. And without further ado, here’s this week’s sleepers.

LINEBACKERS

Andra Davis (CLE): Davis was once a solid fantasy starter, but has tailed off in terms of fantasy production over the past couple of years. Is he in midst of a bounce-back season? Perhaps. The fact that the Browns are simply horrible on both offense and defense means guys like Davis have to step up and their fantasy stats could see inflation. Davis and his Brown mates face their equally-hapless in-state rivals, the Bengals, this week. It could be a Keystone Cops kind of game where the IDPs put up big numbers. Worth a gamble, especially if your big guns are on bye.

Jamie Winborn (DEN): Not sure what happened to Winborn during Week 2 (0 fantasy points) but in Weeks 1 and 2 he has 11 points per. This week brings the Chiefs, and Winborn and Company will be busy tackling Larry Johnson and defending the likes of Tony Gonzalez.

Other to Consider: Rashard Jeanty (CIN)

BONUS MENTION: Clint Session (IND): A bit surprisingly, all three Colt LBs are scoring well so far this season. Gary Brackett has been a mainstay fantasy performer and Freddie Keiaho was all but a sure-thing to start putting up numbers, but where has Session come from? He’s been a favorite of the deep sleeper tracker here at The Huddle and is finally paying off. Playing the strong side, he may have his share of weaker games, but as of now, he’s playing consistent football and his fantasy stats are following suit. He’s not gonna work as a sleeper for this week, as the Colts are on bye. But keep him on your radar or go grab him now, as the next few weeks after the bye will be solid matchups for the Colt IDPs.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Shaun Rogers (DT – CLE): I just have a feeling the CLE/CIN game is going to be a sloppy mess. Rogers could easily tally a couple sacks and 5-6 total tackles.

Travis Kirschke (DE – PIT): Not much on the menu in terms of DL sleepers this week. Kirschke had a big Week 3 game (including 6 solos) and could have a similar effort against the Ravens this week.

Others to Consider: None

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Erik Coleman (S – ATL): Coleman used to be an every-week fantasy starter, but tailed off over the past couple years. He finds himself in a pretty decent situation, at least in terms of him putting up fantasy stats, with the Falcons. Coleman had a huge Week 3 and he could keep it up over the next two weeks with the Panthers and Packers on the docket.

Tye Hill (CB – STL): This just in: the Rams are horrible. So horrible that a trip to Buffalo will likely turn the Rams into an 0-4 team. The Bills will likely find success throwing against this Ram defense. Hill has 6 solos in each of the first three weeks. No reason to think he can’t do that again.

Other to Consider: Pacman Jones (CB - DAL)

WEEK 3 REPORT CARD

LINEBACKERS

Rocky McIntosh (WAS): 7 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles, 1 forced fumble, 0.5 sack (21 fantasy points). Booya. Way to fill up the stat box, Rocky. McIntosh almost doubled his yearly fantasy points in Week 3. He’s an underrated fantasy performer that is a solid fill-in or #3 fantasy LB. Akin Ayodele (MIA): 2 solo tackles, 1 assisted tackle (5 fp). Oh well, for every hit there’s usually a miss. Ayodele has had decent fantasy seasons (mainly as a backup in most leagues) and could possibly help you out this season as the Fin defense improves. Thomas Davis (CAR): 5 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles (13 fp). Not a monster game, but those 13 points would have sufficed for your #3 LB. He’ll have his share of good games, so keep him on your roster – if you have him – as a backup. Or go grab him to fill in for bye weeks if he’s available.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Dwight Freeney (DE – IND): 1 solo tackle (2 measly fp). Oh have the mighty have fallen. Right when you think he may be back on track (10 fp last week), Mr. Freeney lays an egg. He’s waiver wire fodder.Kyle Williams (DT – BUF): 3 solo tackles, 1 assisted tackle (7 fp). With all the DTs coming out of nowhere, you can probably do better than Williams. In leagues that require you start a DT, he’s worthy of keeping an eye on.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Quentin Jammer (CB – SDC): 2 solo tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 1 fumble recovery, 2 passes defensed (10 fp). Not a monster effort like last week, but a solid effort nonetheless. Jammer has skills and is an effective fantasy starter in larger leagues if for nothing else he plays opposite Antonio Cromartie. Jarrad Page (S – KCC): 4 solo tackles, 1 assisted tackle (9 fp). Would have liked to see 10+ points here, especially against the Falcons. He’s a skilled safety who’ll have his share of big games, but unless you have better options, he probably deserves to be a free agent in your league.Michael Griffin (S - TEN): 2 solo tackles, 2 INT, 2 passes defensed (12 fp). Love the two INTs, but a few more tackles would have been nice. Griffin’s having a nice, consistent start to the 2008 season and is worthy of a roster spot – starting in some cases – in most leagues.